Analysis of pelletizing of granulometric separation powder from cork industries

Las industrias del corcho generan una cantidad considerable de residuos sólidos durante su procesamiento. Su gestión implica un problema para las empresas que deben reconsiderar su reutilización para otros fines. En este trabajo se estudia el proceso de granulación de polvo de separación granulométrico, que es uno de los principales residuos de la industria del corcho y que presenta propiedades adecuadas (como materia prima) para su uso térmico. Sin embargo, su heterogeneidad característica, junto con su baja densidad aparente (lo que dificulta su almacenamiento y transporte) son factores restrictivos para su uso energético. Por lo tanto, su forma densificada es una alternativa real para hacer el producto uniforme y garantizar su uso adecuado en los sistemas de calderas. Por lo tanto, los gránulos de corcho (a partir de polvo de separación granulométrica) del estudio cumplieron, excepto las especificaciones de contenido de ceniza, las especificaciones de la norma europea estándar EN-Plus (B) para su aplicación como combustible para uso doméstico.Cork industries generate a considerable amount of solid waste during their processing. Its management implies a problem for companies that should reconsider its reuse for other purposes. In this work, an analysis of pelletizing of granulometric separation powder, which is one of the major wastes in cork industries and which presents suitable properties (as an raw material) for its thermal use, is studied. However, its characteristic heterogeneity, along with its low bulk density (which makes its storage and transportation difficult) are restrictive factors for its energy use. Therefore, its densified form is a real alternative in order to make the product uniform and guarantee its proper use in boiler systems. Thus, the cork pellets (from granulometric separation powder) in the study met, except for ash content specification, the specifications in standard European Norm EN-Plus (B) for its application as fuel for domestic use.• Gobierno de Extremadura, proyectos para la cooperación en sectores estratégicos entre grupos de investigación y empresas : PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura, apoyo a grupos de investigación : GR10151peerReviewe

Association of meal timing with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults

Purpose To investigate the association of meal timing with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults. Methods In this cross-sectional study participated 118 young adults (82 women; 22 ± 2 years old; BMI: 25.1 ± 4.6 kg/m2). Meal timing was determined via three non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Sleep outcomes were objectively assessed using accelerometry. The eating window (time between first and last caloric intake), caloric midpoint (local time at which ≥ 50% of daily calories are consumed), eating jetlag (variability of the eating midpoint between non-working and working days), time from the midsleep point to first food intake, and time from last food intake to midsleep point were calculated. Body composition was determined by DXA. Blood pressure and fasting cardiometabolic risk factors (i.e., triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and insulin resistance) were measured. Results Meal timing was not associated with body composition (p > 0.05). The eating window was negatively related to HOMA-IR and cardiometabolic risk score in men (R2 = 0.348, β = − 0.605; R2 = 0.234, β = − 0.508; all p ≤ 0.003). The time from midsleep point to first food intake was positively related to HOMA-IR and cardiometabolic risk score in men (R2 = 0.212, β = 0.485; R2 = 0.228, β = 0.502; all p = 0.003). These associations remained after adjusting for confounders and multiplicity (all p ≤ 0.011). Conclusions Meal timing seems unrelated to body composition in young adults. However, a longer daily eating window and a shorter time from midsleep point to first food intake (i.e., earlier first food intake in a 24 h cycle) are associated with better cardiometabolic health in young men. Clinical trial registration NCT0236512

Control of several emissions during olive pomace thermal degradation

La biomasa juega un papel importante como fuente de energía, siendo una alternativa interesante a los combustibles fósiles debido a sus características respetuosas con el medio ambiente y sostenibles. Sin embargo, debido a la exposición de los clientes a las emisiones durante el calentamiento de biomasa, los contaminantes evolucionados deben ser tenidos en cuenta y controlados. Cambiar las materias primas o mezclarlas con otra biomasa menos contaminante podría ser un paso adecuado para reducir la contaminación. En este trabajo se estudió el comportamiento térmico del orujo de oliva, roble pirenaico y sus mezclas en combustión mediante análisis termogravimétrico. Fue posible monitorear las emisiones liberadas durante el proceso mediante el análisis de espectrometría de masas. Los experimentos se llevaron a cabo en condiciones no isotérmicas en el intervalo de temperatura de 25-750 ° C y una velocidad de calentamiento de 20 ° C · min-1. Se analizaron las siguientes especies: compuestos aromáticos (benceno y tolueno), emisiones de azufre (dióxido de azufre), 1,4-dioxina, ácido clorhídrico, dióxido de carbono y óxidos de nitrógeno. Los resultados indicaron que los contaminantes se desarrollaron principalmente en dos etapas diferentes, que están relacionadas con las etapas de degradación térmica. Así, dependiendo de la composición del contaminante y de la materia prima, se observaron diferentes perfiles de emisión. Además, la intensidad de los perfiles de emisión se relacionó, en algunos casos, con la composición del precursor.Biomass plays an important role as an energy source, being an interesting alternative to fossil fuels due to its environment-friendly and sustainable characteristics. However, due to the exposure of customers to emissions during biomass heating, evolved pollutants should be taken into account and controlled. Changing raw materials or mixing them with another less pollutant biomass could be a suitable step to reduce pollution. This work studied the thermal behaviour of olive pomace, pyrenean oak and their blends under combustion using thermogravimetric analysis. It was possible to monitor the emissions released during the process by coupling mass spectrometry analysis. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal conditions at the temperature range 25–750 °C and a heating rate of 20 °C·min−1. The following species were analysed: aromatic compounds (benzene and toluene), sulphur emissions (sulphur dioxide), 1,4-dioxin, hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The results indicated that pollutants were mainly evolved in two different stages, which are related to the thermal degradation steps. Thus, depending on the pollutant and raw material composition, different emission profiles were observed. Furthermore, intensity of the emission profiles was related, in some cases, to the composition of the precursor.• Gobierno de Extremadura, proyectos para la cooperación en sectores estratégicos entre grupos de investigación y empresas : PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura, apoyo a grupos de investigación : GR10151peerReviewe

A review of pellets from different sources

El aumento en el consumo de pellets se ha traducido en una amplia variedad de materiales para la fabricación de pellets. Por lo tanto, la industria de pellets ha empezado a buscar productos alternativos, tales como desechos de actividades agrícolas, de silvicultura y de las industrias afines, junto con la combinación de los mismos, obteniendo una amplia gama de estos productos. Además, la entrada en vigor de la norma EN ISO 17225 en el mercado de pellets de madera hace (entre otros tipos) posible para la industria y el uso doméstico. Por lo tanto, los desechos que son adecuados para el uso de la biomasa han aumentado recientemente. En este estudio, se han analizado las principales características de pelotillas de diez clases, hechas en laboratorios a partir de diferentes materias primas. Así, nos hemos centrado en los factores limitantes de la mayoría de los estándares de calidad que determinan la idoneidad para el mercado de biomasa, dependiendo del tipo de sedimento. Los resultados mostraron diferencias considerables entre las pastillas analizadas, excediendo los límites establecidos por el estándar en casi todos los casos, especialmente en lo que se refiere a contenido de cenizas y N y S la composición. Los requisitos de la norma estudiada, muy exigentes en ciertos factores, desactivar la entrada de estos desechos densificado en mercados de mayor valor añadido.The rise in pellet consumption has resulted in a wider variety of materials for pellet manufacture. Thus, pellet industry has started looking for alternative products, such as wastes from agricultural activities, forestry and related industries, along with the combination thereof, obtaining a broad range of these products. In addition, the entry into force of EN ISO 17225 standard makes wood pellet market (among other types) possible for industry and household purposes. Therefore, wastes that are suitable for biomass use have recently increased. In this study, the main characteristics of ten kinds of laboratory-made pellets from different raw materials were analyzed. Thus, we have focused on the most limiting factors of quality standards that determine the suitability for biomass market, depending on the kind of pellet. The results showed considerable differences among the analyzed pellets, exceeding the limits established by the standard in almost all cases, especially concerning ash content and N and S composition. The requirements of the studied standard, very demanding for certain factors, disable the entry of these densified wastes in greater added value markets.• Gobierno de Extremadura. Proyectos PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura. Ayuda a grupos de investigación GR10151peerReviewe

Acute Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on Energy Expenditure at Resting and during Uphill Walking in Healthy Young Men

The effects of the different electrical frequencies of whole-body electrical stimulation (WB-EMS) on energy expenditure (EE) and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of different WB-EMS electrical frequencies on EE and the RER during supine resting and uphill walking. A total of 10 healthy and recreationally active men (21.6 +/- 3.3 years old) participated in the present study. Participants completed two testing sessions in a randomized order. In each session, a variety of impulse frequencies (1 hertz (Hz), 2 Hz, 4 Hz, 6 Hz, 8 Hz, and 10 Hz) were applied in a randomized order, allowing a 10 min passive recovery between them. Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production were measured to calculate EE and the RER. All frequencies increased EE at rest (all p = 0.923). During uphill walking, the frequency that elicited the highest increase in EE was 6 Hz (Delta = 4.87 +/- 0.84 kcal/min) compared to the unstimulated condition. None of the impulse frequencies altered the RER during uphill walking. WB-EMS increases EE in healthy young men both during resting and uphill walking.WiemsPro S.L.University of GranadaUnit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellenc

Impact of empirical treatment in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. bacteremia. A multicentric cohort study

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to analyze the factors that are associated with the adequacy of empirical antibiotic therapy and its impact in mortality in a large cohort of patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)--producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. bacteremia. METHODS: Cases of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) bacteremia collected from 2003 through 2008 in 19 hospitals in Spain. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: We analyzed 387 cases ESBL-E bloodstream infections. The main sources of bacteremia were urinary tract (55.3%), biliary tract (12.7%), intra-abdominal (8.8%) and unknown origin (9.6%). Among all the 387 episodes, E. coli was isolated from blood cultures in 343 and in 45.71% the ESBL-E was multidrug resistant. Empirical antibiotic treatment was adequate in 48.8% of the cases and the in hospital mortality was 20.9%. In a multivariate analysis adequacy was a risk factor for death [adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.39 (0.31-0.97); P = 0.04], but not in patients without severe sepsis or shock. The class of antibiotic used empirically was not associated with prognosis in adequately treated patients. CONCLUSION: ESBL-E bacteremia has a relatively high mortality that is partly related with a low adequacy of empirical antibiotic treatment. In selected subgroups the relevance of the adequacy of empirical therapy is limited

Phylogeny and phylogeography of a recent HIV-1 subtype F outbreak among men who have sex with men in Spain deriving from a cluster with a wide geographic circulation in Western Europe

This work received support from the Dirección General de Farmacia, Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, Government of Spain, grant EC11-272; European Network of Excellence EUROPRISE (Rational Design of HIV Vaccines and Microbicides), grant LSHP-CT-2006-037611; European Research Infrastructures for Poverty Related Diseases (EURIPRED). Seventh Framework Programme: FP7-Capacities-infrastructures-2012-1, grant agreement 312661; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Evaluación, and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Plan Nacional I + D + I, through project RD12/0017/0026; Consellería de Sanidade, Government of Galicia, Spain (MVI 1291/08); and the Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud, Basque Country, Spain (MVI-1255-08). Marcos Pérez-Losada was supported by a DC D-CFAR Research Award from the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (P30AI087714) and by an University Facilitating Fund award from George Washington University. Aurora Fernández-García is supported by CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.We recently reported the rapid expansion of an HIV-1 subtype F cluster among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the region of Galicia, Northwest Spain. Here we update this outbreak, analyze near full-length genomes, determine phylogenetic relationships, and estimate its origin. For this study, we used sequences of HIV-1 protease-reverse transcriptase and env V3 region, and for 17 samples, near full-length genome sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses were performed via maximum likelihood. Locations and times of most recent common ancestors were estimated using Bayesian inference. Among samples analyzed by us, 100 HIV-1 F1 subsubtype infections of monophyletic origin were diagnosed in Spain, including 88 in Galicia and 12 in four other regions. Most viruses (n = 90) grouped in a subcluster (Galician subcluster), while 7 from Valladolid (Central Spain) grouped in another subcluster. At least 94 individuals were sexually-infected males and at least 71 were MSM. Seventeen near full-length genomes were uniformly of F1 subsubtype. Through similarity searches and phylogenetic analyses, we identified 18 viruses from four other Western European countries [Switzerland (n = 8), Belgium (n = 5), France (n = 3), and United Kingdom (n = 2)] and one from Brazil, from samples collected in 2005?2011, which branched within the subtype F cluster, outside of both Spanish subclusters, most of them corresponding to recently infected individuals. The most probable geographic origin and age of the Galician subcluster was Ferrol, Northwest Galicia, around 2007, while the Western European cluster probably emerged in Switzerland around 2002. In conclusion, a recently expanded HIV-1 subtype F cluster, the largest non-subtype B cluster reported in Western Europe, continues to spread among MSM in Spain; this cluster is part of a larger cluster with a wide geographic circulation in diverse Western European countries.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group